Boris Johnson says he'd rather 'die in a ditch' than delay his HalloweenBrexit deadline any further.

He's point-blank refused to ask Brussels leaders for an extension to the Article 50 process.

But MPs have passed a law saying he has to - and Number 10 say the Government will obey the law.

He wanted to call an election, in the hopes he would secure a big enough majority to ram his plans through.

But to do that, he needs to get two thirds of MPs to vote for it - and they won't.

So Johnson needs to find another way to avoid delaying Brexit. Here's a few of the options available to him.

Can he send a ‘second letter’?

(Image: REUTERS)

One theory being briefed out to journalists by Number 10 insiders is the idea that the Prime Minister could send one letter asking for a Brexit extension - along with a second letter effectively saying “Nah. Ignore that, never mind.”

This ‘fingers-crossed-behind-my-back’ strategy is reportedly being considered at the highest level of Government - but is unlikely to go down very well with EU leaders, not to mention British judges.

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So he’s going to need to find a way to trigger an election without MPs backing it - how?

(Image: REUTERS)

Mr Johnson can’t get the two-thirds majority he needs to trigger an election under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act (FTPA) - so he needs another way.

One such alternative, it’s thought, would be to table a single-line bill which amends the FTPA to say we should call an election without using the normal procedure just this once.

The upside of that is that he only needs a simple majority to push it through.

The downside is that such a bill would be open to opposition MPs amending it even further - for example, to put the election date after the Halloween Brexit deadline, or to reduce the voting age to 16.

If he returns from the EU Summit on October 17 without a new deal to present to Parliament, he could quit and recommend Jeremy Corbyn to the Queen as the best placed leader to form a Government in his place.

The Labour leader would be forced to seek an Article 50 extension on October 19.

That leaves Mr Johnson free to campaign in an election as the man who would rather ‘die in a ditch’ than delay Brexit.